A new survey shows that the general population here now expect business leaders and chief executives to take the lead on change rather than waiting for government to impose it.
This is according to the findings of the latest Edelman Trust Barometer for 2019.
Edelman surveyed 1,150 people in Ireland to gauge their trust levels in and attitudes towards business, NGOs, the media and the political system.
The findings also show that CEOs can create positive change on issues such as equal pay, the ending of discrimination, improving the environment and job training.
The belief that companies should benefit society as well as being profitable is now "the new normal" for businesses, Edelman said.
This year's findings show that trust levels in traditional media remain high at 62%, but trust in social media remains low at 27%.
The 2019 Trust Barometer also shows far higher levels of news engagement than in 2018, as concerns over the use of fake news and disinformation remain prevalent.
"Due to ongoing political uncertainty, the Barometer shows increased trust in the EU, but political uncertainty also fuels concerns about employment and job security, especially the impact that international conflicts may have on trade policies and tariffs," commented Joe Carmody, Managing Director at Edelman Ireland.
Amid this ongoing political uncertainty, the Irish public is placing increasing trust in the EU, which trust levels increasing to 56%.
Mr Carmody said there had been a massive shift in the past year among Irish people about the role of business, with the vast majority of the public now expecting companies to do good as well as being profitable.
"The reward for employers and business leaders who are aligned with the public's view is also considerable, with staff acting as powerful advocates for employers," he added.
